Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder has a 7-day official rating of 7.14 million viewers according to the research board BARB.

The official rating includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

The rating made the episode the 9th most-watched programme on British television for the week, 

The top-rated show was the Saturday broadcast of Strictly Come Dancing, however unlike last week Doctor Who had more viewers than the Sunday results show, possibly because there was no eviction this week.  

I'm a Celebrity occupied positions 2-8 in the top ten. 

The Appreciation Index, a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the episode, was 83.

The final episode or the Fourteenth Doctor trilogy, The Giggle, had an overnight rating of 4.62 million. Its Appreciation Index was 85. 

Ncuti Gatwa has made his first public appearance as The Doctor to switch on the lights at the London Eye on London's South Bank.

The newly regenerated Doctor was joined by his companion Millie Gibson who plays Ruby Sunday in the upcoming series. 

Also attending was showrunner Russell T Davies and stars from the upcoming Christmas story The Church on Ruby Road including  Anita Dobson.

The cast and crew were present for the press launch of the episode. Ncuti Gatwa told the audience

Millie Gibson described the story

While Russell T Davies spoke of his delight the new Doctor was finally being seen

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road, can be seen on Christmas Day at 5.55 pm UK time on BBC One in the UK and worldwide on Disney+

The Goblin Song, written by Murray Gold and Russell T Davies, has rocketed to the top of the UK iTunes charts on the day of release. 

The single is taken from the soundtrack of the 2023 Christmas special, The Church on Ruby Road due to be broadcast on BBC One on Christmas day as well as being available worldwide on Disney+.

The story is the first full adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor as played by Ncuti Gatwa. 

In the episodes the Doctor's world collides with Ruby Sunday played by Millie Gibson

The episode also stars Davina McCall as herself, Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood, Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s mum Carla, and Angela Wynter as Ruby’s grandmother Cherry.

The Goblin Song is available on BBC Sounds and is also available via Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer.

All proceeds will go to BBC Children in Need.

The Goblin Song - Official Lyric Video The Goblins are coming for Christmas! 🧌🎄 Listen to THE GOBLIN SONG from 'The Church on Ruby Road' - available to stream now! 🎶

Reaction to the final Doctor Who special starring David Tennant as Doctor Number 14, The Giggle, is overwhelmingly positive with many praising the episode that saw the return of the Toymaker and the introduction of new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa.

The Evening Standard described the episode as one of the best ever

For the I it was a return to form for the series under Russel T Davies's leadership with Ncuti Gatwa showing the role of the Doctor is in safe hands

Collider also paid tribute to the returning showrunner

For The Telegraph the episode was a magical trip across the Whoniverse. 

For the Guardian, one standout performance was that of Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, a character returning to the series after 57 years.

Den of Geek lamented the departure of the Fourteenth Doctor, paying tribute to returning actor David Tennant.

And Games Radar paid tribute to Catherine Tate, returning as Donna Noble

Have your say on the episode of the Doctor Who News Facebook page

Doctor Who returns for a Christmas Day special and a new series in 2024

Doctor Who continues this Saturday with the third and final story in the series of specials made to mark Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary.

The Giggle can be seen on BBC One in the United Kingdom at 6.30 pm. It will be released on Disney+ and the BBC iPlayer at the same time.

The Giggle stars David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. It is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Chanya Button for Bad Wolf Productions and BBC Studios.

Dancing With The Toymaker... | PREVIEW  The Doctor and Donna are back on Earth - but what's happened to the human race? 😨

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine introduces the readers to the fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa.

The bumper edition includes a 32-page mini-mag of the original Star Beast comic strip and a double-sided poster.

The issue also includes a special offer to download a free audio drama featuring the Fifth and Seventh Doctors.

This issue’s features include:

• An in-depth interview with new doctor Ncuti Gatwa.

• Exclusive previews of new episodes The Giggle and The Church on Ruby Road with Russell T Davies.

• Mum and grandma of new companion Ruby (alias Michelle Greenidge and Angela Wynter) on joining the show in this year’s Christmas Special.

• The final interview with much-loved national treasure Bernard Cribbins.

• The Diary of the Meep! A minute-by-minute account of the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes’ journey to becoming the Meep.

• Further Than We’ve Ever Been Before – DWM’s Emily Cook on the set of Wild Blue Yonder to discover its VFX secrets.

• A very special comic strip adventure featuring the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna…

• 80s director Andrew Morgan remembering his time on Doctor Who.

• A glimpse behind the scenes on 60s Doctor Who.

• Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies is in the festive spirit, and even lets a few secrets about the next series slip.

• Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock on how production on Doctor Who has reached its busiest point yet!

• The Fact of Fiction – all you could ever want to know about the 2015 series finale Hell Bent.

• Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Reviews – The Underwater Menace animation, Frazer Hines’s Evil of the Daleks and action figures!

• The fiendishly festive DWM Christmas quiz!

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 598 is on sale Thursday 7 December  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.

The first special starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, The Star Beast, had an official 7-day rating of 7.61 million viewers in the UK.

The rating is the highest figure for Doctor Who since The Tsuranga Conundrum in 2018.

Doctor Who was the 10th most-watched programme on British Television for the week, behind seven episodes of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and two of Strictly Come Dancing.

The official rating includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Globally the episode is the 61st watched movie on Disney+. It has been most successful in Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.

The Appreciation Index, a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the episode, was 84.

The second episode, Wild Blue Yonder, had an overnight rating of 4.83 million, third for Saturday behind the dancing and grub-eating reality shows. 7-day figures will be released next week. Its Appreciation Index was 83. 

The BBC has released details of the Christmas episode of Doctor Who, The Church On Ruby Road. 

New images have been released from the story where Ncuti Gatwa, takes over the TARDIS for his first adventure. The Fifteenth Doctor will be joined by Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, as she makes her debut as the Doctor’s companion.

Airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the episode sees the Doctor come face-to-face with the mythical and mysterious goblins as his life collides with Ruby Sunday.

Little is known about Ruby Sunday as she was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby. Now living with her mum, Carla and grandmother, Cherry,  her world is about to be turned upside down when she encounters the Doctor and the two set off on their first adventure together.

Alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson is Davina McCall who will be playing herself as she joins the cast alongside Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s mum Carla, Angela Wynter as Ruby’s grandmother Cherry and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood.

Davina McCall said:

Russell T Davies, Showrunner adds

Doctor Who continues this Saturday with the second in the series of three specials made to mark Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary.

Wild Blue Yonder can be seen on BBC One in the United Kingdom at 6.30 pm. It will be released on Disney+ and the BBC iPlayer at the same time.

Wild Blue Yonder stars David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. It is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Tom Kingsley for Bad Wolf Productions and BBC Studios.

Where are the Doctor and Donna?  Where has the TARDIS dropped the Doctor and Donna this time?... ✨ Watch a preview from the upcoming 60th anniversary special 'WILD BLUE YONDER'!

The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will be back on BBC One on Christmas Day for the full debut episode starring the Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa. 

Doctor Who will be a key part of the BBC offering over the festive season with Gatwa taking control of the TARDIS in his first adventure following Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer says: